Blow By Blow leads Some Neck over the last © Photo Healy Racing
The Willie Mullins trained Some Neck put in a career best performance to beat Blow By Blow in the Grade 2 Liam & Valerie Brennan Memorial Florida Pearl Novice Chase.
Successful on his debut over fences at Gowran in February, he disappointed on his next three starts, and was well-beaten in the Killarney National on his most recent outing in May.
Sent off a 7/1 chance this afternoon, the grey son of Yeats was settled behind the leaders by David Mullins, and was pushed along in fourth from four out.
He moved into third approaching the second last, and was far from fluent there. A swifter jump at the last saw him move right alongside Blow By Blow, and he soon got to the front, keeping on well under pressure to prevail by a neck.
The runner-up was returned the even money favourite under Davy Russell for Gordon Elliott, while the front-running Nick Lost was another eight and a half lengths back in third.
The front two briefly came together on the run-in, but after a stewards enquiry the result remained unaltered.
Willie Mullins said afterwards: "David rides him well and that's twice he’s come from off the pace as he also won on him at Gowran.
"I'd imagine we were a little bit fortunate as well. The two Gigginstown horses took each other on early enough and we were lucky to benefit from that, but that happens in races.
"It just shows the Gigginstown horses are all trying to win which is a compliment to them but ultimately it benefitted me in the end."
STEWARDS REPORTS
Owing to the low lying elevation of the sun, the Stewards granted permission for fences 5,6 & 7 to be omitted from this race
The Stewards enquired into possible interference between the last fence and the winning post involving Blow By Blow, ridden by D.N. Russell, placed second and Some Neck (FR), ridden by D.J. Mullins, placed first, where it appeared that Some Neck (FR) had gradually drifted towards Blow By Blow when racing close together. Evidence was heard from the riders concerned. Having viewed the recording of the race and considered the evidence, the Stewards made no alteration to the Judges placings' and took no further action in this regard. They noted that D.J. Mullins had used the whip in the forehand position down the shoulder during the same part of the race but accepted his reason for doing so.
P. Townend, rider of Orion D'Aubrelle (FR) trained by W.P. Mullins, reported to the Clerk of Scales that his mount was pulled up having made too many mistakes.
Additional reporting by Alan Magee
